Town News Briefing

December 13, 2000

GUILFORD

Couple Wants

Menorah On Green

GUILFORD -- A local couple is applying for a sign permit to put a menorah on the town green, demanding the same kind of space and respect given to the holiday tree that was lighted by residents earlier this month.

The board of selectmen denied the first request for a menorah filed by Steven and Stephanie Jacobs last month. Selectmen said allowing a religious symbol to be placed on town land violates a constitutional ban on mixing religion and government.

A menorah is a nine-branched candelabrum used in celebration of Hanukkah.

But critics note that Guilford allows a tree lighting on the green, which represents a Christian holiday. Town officials are now calling it a holiday tree, not a Christmas tree, to avoid the problem.

In a note accompanying his sign permit, Jacobs said he wants to put a lighted menorah on the green, not a sign of a menorah. He decided to call it a sign and use the regulations to get a permit based upon the advice of the town attorney, Michael Dorney.

Regulations allow signs to be placed on the green, but they can be lighted only with the approval of town officials under unusual circumstances. Jacobs believes his request will qualify as an unusual circumstance, saying a menorah by definition must be lighted.

The town last year denied an out-of-town rabbi's request to put a menorah on the green, again claiming it violated the constitutional principle of the separation of church and state.

AREAWIDE

Inmate Arrested

On New Charges

MIDDLETOWN -- State police charged a 39-year-old inmate with two counts of corrupting the morals of a child, arresting him while he was appearing in Middletown Superior Court on unrelated charges Tuesday.

Joseph Dollinger, an inmate in Enfield, was being held in the court's holding cell in lieu of $10,000 bail. Dollinger, a former resident of Cheshire and Bethany, has a long history of drug, drunken-driving and parole violation convictions.

State police would not release any details of the corruption allegations Tuesday.

AREAWIDE

State Police Plan

Extra DWI Patrols

The Westbrook troop of the Connecticut State Police plans extra drunken-driving patrols and sobriety checkpoints in Middlesex County this weekend.

OLD SAYBROOK

Town Police Plan

DWI Checkpoints

OLD SAYBROOK -- Town police will conduct sobriety checkpoints Friday in conjunction with state police.

The checkpoints will be on various roads throughout town. From 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., officers will look for intoxicated motorists and other violations.

MERIDEN

Agency Bans

Outdoor Lights

MERIDEN -- The Meriden Housing Authority is pulling the plug on outdoor Christmas lights at its apartments, to the ire of many residents who already had installed lights and other holiday displays.

The authority, which manages apartments for subsidized and low-income tenants, said holiday lights are a fire hazard and could damage the exterior of the buildings.

Residents' leases forbid any outdoor modifications to the buildings.

Some residents said they have put up outdoor decorations for years and did not understand why the authority was cracking down two weeks before Christmas.

``The building has always had decorations, and some people spend a lot of money,'' said Heberto Collazzo, a resident of the Chamberlain Heights apartments.

In a letter Monday, the housing authority ordered tenants to remove any displays by today.

Authority Chairman Michael Quinn said the restrictions are part of tenants' leases but acknowledged the ban on outdoor lights may not have been strictly enforced in the past.

Tenants who refuse to take down the lights may be fined, Quinn said.

``It's always upsetting when you have to tell people they can't do something when all they're doing is celebrating a holiday,'' Quinn said. ``But it is a rental ... and we have standards.''

Tenant advocate Lucille Malavenda was outraged at the timing of the order.

``They knew this was going to happen,'' said Malavenda. ``They know they do this every year. And people wonder why they hate the housing authority and they don't trust them. They don't make them feel it's their home.''

Quinn said the housing authority took action as soon as the problem surfaced.

Some tenants were so angry they threw their decorations in the trash, while others refused Monday to remove their displays.

EAST HADDAM

Library Fund Drive

On Way To Goal

EAST HADDAM -- Patrons of the Rathbun Free Memorial Library have contributed more than $4,500 as of the first-week-of-December-to-year-end fund drive.

``Answers to our appeal letter have been inspiring,'' said Shea Jezek, chair of the Rathbun Council. ``In order to reach our goal of $12,500, we look forward to hearing from all the loyal library supporters and users who have not yet sent in their donations.''

Tax deductible donations may be sent to the Rathbun Free Memorial Library, P.O. Box G, East Haddam, CT 06423.